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Council approves TIRZ amendments to fund Walsam Road, increases zone participation from 70% to 85%
Summary
The City Council on April 15 approved amendments to Project Converse Moving Forward Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No.1 to increase local participation to 85 percent and fund completion of Walsam Road and the FM 1516 intersection.
The City Council on April 15 approved three ordinances amending the Project Converse Moving Forward Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ No. 1) to increase the city’s participation rate in the TIRZ from 70 percent to 85 percent and to make additional funding available to complete Walsam Road (formerly Benzingleman Road) and the intersection improvements at FM 1516/East Loop 1604.
City Manager Lanny Lambert briefed the council that the change will increase TIRZ participation and produce roughly $150,000 per year more in the near term, money identified to cover higher construction costs for the intersection, road completion and condemnation costs needed to acquire right of way. Daniel Ortiz, an attorney representing the developer, was present for questions.
The council voted to approve (first reading or action as noted in the packet) the finance-plan amendment, the interlocal management agreement with Bexar County, and the project-plan amendment. For each ordinance the council followed the same procedure: a motion, a second and a roll call style voice vote with the result recorded as "motion carries."
Why it matters: the amendments reallocate property-tax increments collected inside the zone to cover substantial, site‑specific infrastructure costs; the city manager said the change will yield approximately $150,000 a year in additional TIRZ funding in coming years and that the TIRZ board will reconvene within six months to review implementation.
What was approved (summary of the three items): - Finance plan amendment (item 10B): authorizes the city manager to execute revised finance documents increasing participation from 70% to 85% of property tax collected inside the zone and applying the increment to the road, intersection and condemnation costs. The council motion carried. - Interlocal management agreement (item 10C): updates the board composition, operating procedures and roles among the City of Converse, Bexar County and the TIRZ board; council approved the amendment and the motion carried. - Project plan amendment (item 10D): identifies eligible expenditures and authorizes use of the increment for the Walsam Road and FM 1516 intersection construction, right‑of‑way acquisition and related costs; council approved the ordinance and the motion carried.
The council did not provide a roll‑call tally in the minutes beyond unanimous voice approval; the record shows all council members were present and each motion concluded with "All in favor say aye... Motion carries." The city manager said the TIRZ board recommended the amendments at its April meeting.
Next steps: the city manager was authorized to negotiate and execute the necessary documents; staff said the TIRZ board will meet again within six months to review operations and potential other uses for the TIRZ funds.
